Jake Evans didn’t name Dylan Larkin, but the timing of his comment was enough to light up Canadiens fans.
The Montreal forward said, “I think you’d be crazy to not wanna play here.” With trade chatter swirling around Larkin, plenty of people immediately linked the remark to the Detroit Red Wings captain, even if there’s nothing to suggest Evans was aiming it at him directly.
Larkin has asked for a trade, but Montreal is still not on his list of preferred destinations. That remains the biggest hurdle for the Canadiens if they want to get involved.
The financial side makes things even trickier. Larkin is carrying an $8.7 million annual cap hit through 2030-31, so any deal would be a serious commitment.
Detroit’s season has also taken a rough turn. The Red Wings are 7-8-3 under Todd McLellan and sit last in the Atlantic Division.
The speculation picked up again last week when Elliotte Friedman suggested Larkin might be open to revisiting his list of acceptable destinations, with Montreal already part of the discussion. There has also been talk of a possible three-team deal involving Tampa Bay, Nikita Kucherov and Larkin, though Larkin’s reported stance on Montreal has not changed.
Evans, meanwhile, has become the kind of voice that carries weight in the room. Drafted 207th overall in 2014, he has carved out a respected veteran role in Montreal’s locker room.
And the Canadiens have given players plenty to sell right now. They’re 11-3-3 and second in the Atlantic, with Evans contributing 6 points in 17 games, including a shorthanded goal and a game-winner.
So whether he meant it as a general statement or something sharper, Evans’ comment has only added another wrinkle to the Larkin conversation. Until that stance changes, Montreal is still on the outside looking in.
In Other News...
Canadiens Took Control Of Toronto Then Had To Survive A Scare
Montreal looked in command for most of the night against Toronto, skating out to a 3-0 lead and getting a big offensive push from Alex Newhook, who scored twice in the win. For a team that has been trying to stack points and keep building momentum, it was the kind of start that suggested a tidy road victory was there to be had.
Instead, the third period turned into a test of nerve. The Maple Leafs scored twice to make things uncomfortable, but the Canadiens answered with a power-play goal to regain control and then survived a double-minor penalty to close out the 4-2 victory, a finish that was far less routine than the early lead had promised. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Risky Goalie Decision
The Canadiens goaltending picture has become a little murkier at just the wrong time. Samuel Montembeault is on injured reserve and nearing the end of his contract, while Jacob Fowlers recent play has given Montreal another name to weigh in the mix. For Kent Hughes, that means the position is no longer just about getting through the moment, but about deciding how much stability he wants to preserve for the stretch ahead.
Chicagos move with Arvid Soderblom adds another layer to the equation because it can shift the market around Montreals options. The Canadiens have already drawn trade interest in Montembeault, and any change in the available goalie pool could affect how aggressively they move, or whether they hold off and let the situation develop a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Fowlers Response To That Canadiens Collapse Said Everything
Jacob Fowler had every reason to let the Winnipeg loss linger. He had already turned aside 42 shots before the Canadiens watched a lead slip away with four goals against late in the third period, the kind of collapse that can hang over a room for a while. Instead, the young goaltender came back with the same calm edge the next time out, and teammates and coaches took notice of how steady he stayed through the whole stretch.
Against Toronto, Fowler looked every bit like a goalie who had moved on from the disappointment without carrying it into the crease. He stopped 26 of 28 shots in a 4-2 Montreal win, and the response only added to the sense that the Canadiens have something mature beyond his years in net. For a team trying to build confidence, the way Fowler handled the setback may have said as much as the saves themselves. [Read more 🡒]